Cottonwood Lady Memorial Carving Dedicated

That’s from Long Plain First Nation Chief Dennis Meeches on the Cottonwood Lady Memorial dedication; a project undertaken by the first nation a couple of years ago which came to fruition this past week during Sagkeeng First Nation’s Treaty Day. He shares the story.

“Between 1913 and 1917 the children from the residential school had planted some cottonwoods. We harvested these cottonwoods a few years back,” explains Meeches, noting the trees were nearing the end of their lives. “We had a local carver who did a carving project with the young men from Long Plain First Nation. They carved a number of beautiful pieces and the central piece was the Cottonwood Lady Memorial.”

Meeches says a few years ago they hosted the families of missing and murders indigenous women and told them about their project to dedicate the statue in memory of these women.

“We had their blessing [to go forward with this sacred project] and, the other day, at Sagkeeng’s Treaty Day, we did the gifting of the Cottonwood Lady Memorial,” says Meeches. He adds it was a beautiful ceremony.

Meeches notes he’d like to thank their elders and drum for helping with the ceremony.